The Effect of Ethanol Extract of Wrightia tinctoria Bark on Wound Healing in Rats

Objectives: To screen the wound healing activity of ethanol extract of Wrightia tinctoria bark using incision, excision and dead space wound models and evaluate histopathological and biochemical changes of granuloma tissue. Material and method: The bark powder of W. tinctoria was extracted with 95% ethanol by continuous heat extraction and was subjected for phytochemical investigation and screened for wound healing activity in the incision, excision and dead space wound models in rats. A supportive study made on granuloma tissue to estimate the hydroxyproline content and histopathological examination to determine the pattern of lay-down for collagen using Masson Trichrome stain. Results: Triterpenoids, steroids and saponins were found to be present in ethanol extract of the barks of W. tinctoria. In resutured incision wound model, ethanol extract showed significant breaking strength (P<0.01) compared to control. The ethanol extract promotes better wound healing by increasing the percentage wound closure and decreasing epithelization time (P<0.001) compared to control. Statistically significant increase (P<0.001) was observed in breaking strength and hydroxyproline content of ten day old granuloma of drug treated animals compared to control animals in dead space wound model. Conclusion: The results of the present study reveal that ethanol extract of bark of W. tinctoria have significant wound healing activity. The pro-healing action seems to be due to the increased synthesis of collagen, it's cross-linking as well as better alignment and maturation. This may be attributed to the presence of triterpinoids in the title plant.